Mistakes Concerning The Trinity

Arianism
Arianism was named for its founder, Arius, who was a 4th century priest in Alexandria, Egypt. Arias taught that Jesus was a created being, who is neither equal nor co-eternal to the Father. In denying the deity of Christ, yet advocating that he is to be worshipped, Arians are in truth promoting idol worship. This belief has found its way into many current Christian Identity and white supremacist groups like Shepherds Chapel, and countless Hebrew Roots groups. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: Jesus is not a created being, He is the Creator, All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made, (John 1:3) who is equal with the Father, I and My Father are one. (John 10:30)

Adoptionism (also known as Dynamic Monarchianism)

Adoptionism is a belief similar to Arianism, but arose a century later. Its teaching is that Jesus was a created being who did not pre-exist time, and after passing a test and completing his baptism, he was awarded supernatural powers by God and adopted as the Son. This belief is basis for the Jehovahs Witnesses. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: God the Son Jesus has always existed, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God, (John 1:1-2) and always will exist, I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)

Modalism (also known as Modalistic Monarchianism or Sabellianism)

Modalism is the teaching that God can only exist in a single role at a given time. It maintains that God was in the role of the Father in the Old Testament days, the Son in the Gospels, and upon the ascension, took on the role of the Holy Spirit, which is not God, but the spirit of God. Modalists claim that those who believe in the trinity

believe in 3 separate Gods, but this is an inaccurate statement and more accurately describes another error known as Tritheism (see below). Modalism is a mainstay of the UPC. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are 3 co-eternal, coexisting manifestations of the same being. When He had been baptize d, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)

Tritheism
Tritheism is the belief that the Godhead is in reality 3 separate beings, with 3 separate wills, in violation of scripture that says God is one. While maintaining the deity of Christ, schisms of this belief (such as those taught by Word of Faith proponents) diminishes him to born again status and maintains that he was the first born again man, a sinner in need of a savior. Mormons are also tritheistic with the extra wrinkle of polytheism thrown in (see below). WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: Jesus was sinless, For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief in many Gods, in violation of Deuteronomy 6:4 and Isaiah 43:10, 44:6. This is a schism of Tritheism and is a belief maintained by the Mormon church. They maintain that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the 3 gods of this world, and that the best Mormons will become Gods to populate their own world in the afterlife, where with the assistance of a goddess mother, they can give birth to their own Jesus and their Spirit will reign. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES: There is only one God, Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. (Isaiah 43:10) and in eternity we will worship only Him Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)